Minnesota Vikings Clinch NFC North, Earn Playoff Berth with Win vs. Bengals

The Minnesota Vikings fought injuries throughout the 2017 campaign and still clinched their second NFC North title in three years on Sunday in a 34-7 win vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.

While Minnesota won the division in 2015, this year's effort represents a bounce back from a disappointing 8-8 finish in 2016.

It would be easy to point to the broken collarbone suffered by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers—which came against the Vikings—as a primary factor in Minnesota winning the NFC North, but that would be ignoring the champion's own offensive health concerns.

Rookie running back Dalvin Cook suffered a torn ACL on Oct. 1 during a victory over the Detroit Lions after it appeared he would be a breakthrough contributor with 288 rushing yards in his first three games.

What's more, quarterback Sam Bradford hasn't played since an Oct. 9 win over the Chicago Bears because of a knee injury, and fellow signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater wasn't ready at the start of the season after suffering a dislocated knee and tearing his ACL during a practice in August 2016.

The Vikings wouldn't have won the division had other playmakers not stepped in on the offensive side.

The running back combination of Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray has been solid even without the high upside of Cook, and quarterback Case Keenum far outpaced his effort last season when he threw nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams. He has filled in admirably, throwing for 3,219 yards and 20 touchdowns while only throwing seven interceptions through 13 games.

The strong defense has also played a starring role and ranks 13th in the league in points allowed per game.

There is formidable individual talent on every level of the defense with Linval Joseph anchoring the defensive line, Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr doing so for the linebackers, and safety Harrison Smith and cornerback Xavier Rhodes spearheading the secondary.

Attention now turns to the postseason and Minnesota's effort to eradicate its past.

It hasn't won a playoff game since the 2009 season when it reached the NFC Championship Game and lost to the New Orleans Saints. Its four Super Bowl appearances came way back in the 1960s and 1970s and were all losses, meaning the Vikings are still searching for their first Lombardi Trophy.

The pieces are in place to make a run at changing that, but they will first celebrate their NFC North title.